Stuart Creek 2 Fire Information- July 18, 2013

Published: July 19, 2013

Crews continued to make good progress Wednesday, cutting containment lines and mopping up hot spots along the western and northwestern perimeter of the fire and on spot fires to the east. They had help from cooler temperatures and cloudy skies, which moderated the fire’s behavior. The fire remains at 85,475 acres and is 57 percent contained.

Much of the focus of firefighters efforts in recent days has been two spot fires that jumped the South Fork of the Chena River. The smaller, 30-acre fire has been contained and crews are mopping up there. The larger 100-acre fire is about 75 percent contained and crews are continuing to build containment lines there.

Warmer, drier temperatures today may cause some isolated flare ups in islands of unburned fuel within the interior of the fire perimeter and smoke may be visible. However, wetting rain is forecast for the area tonight with scattered showers Friday.

An Alaska Incident Management Team assumed control of the fire yesterday. A total of 628 people are working on the fire.

The Stuart Creek 2 Fire began June 19 in a military training area about 25 miles East of North Pole, Alaska. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Evacuation Watch: An evacuation watch remains in effect along the Chena Hot Springs Road between Mileposts 27 and 39.

Closure: The Chena River State Recreation Area remains closed from Mile 26 to mile 50.5 of the Chena Hot Springs Road. For more information contact the Alaska Division of Parks and Recreation at (907) 451-2695 or visit. www.dnr.alaska.gov/parks/asp/curevnts.htm